i have these bandmates. drummer and a bassist. they tend to get riley and team up against practicing every time i try to initiate a band practice. they won't just pick up their instruments, shut up, and play. i am a guitar player and i sing. they just cannot learn that they need to practice and try new things in the band.

for instance; we have this song we are working on where there is a part with a tempo change. i suggest playing the part for twice as many bars so that we can change the tempo halfway through and it will provide more energy for the song. but it just gets instantly shot down because at least i think they are both lazy.

there is no way i can replace either of them but i need them to be as motivated to play instruments as i am.

does anyone have tips on motivating your bandmates? or you can vent instances wherein their bandmates are just being silly and lazy that you have to deal with.

Honestly, I wouldn't even attempt to motivate them. Why can't you replace them? You sound like you want to be at least somewhat serious with the music, whereas they sound like they just want to be in a band for a laugh. It's a waste of energy trying to change people, so why not find new members?

The hard stuff comes when you're fighting for a record deal, forcing yourself to stand out in an overcrowded music scene, if it's hard to get others to pick up their instruments, all that will be impossible when you get to it.

How often do you perform in public? Not many musicians will get very motivated unless there is some sort of stimulus. If you are performing and this doesn't motivate them then the advice to move on is probably good. Far too many musicians are their own worst enemiies, messing up through lack of practice, missing opportunites and just generally lacking in foresight. Mind you that is probably just the human condition.

i have these bandmates. drummer and a bassist. they tend to get riley and team up against practicing every time i try to initiate a band practice. they won't just pick up their instruments, shut up, and play. i am a guitar player and i sing. they just cannot learn that they need to practice and try new things in the band.

for instance; we have this song we are working on where there is a part with a tempo change. i suggest playing the part for twice as many bars so that we can change the tempo halfway through and it will provide more energy for the song. but it just gets instantly shot down because at least i think they are both lazy.

there is no way i can replace either of them but i need them to be as motivated to play instruments as i am.

does anyone have tips on motivating your bandmates? or you can vent instances wherein their bandmates are just being silly and lazy that you have to deal with.

if you are the band leader, tell them to step up or they are out. simple as that.

Motivation is key for making progress. Apathy is very hard to get people to overcome especially if they've gotten comfortable with it. Starting over in a new band may seem daunting but you won't regret it when you end up finding like-minded individuals with the same work ethic as yourself.

Alternatively, have you tried talking to them? You don't have to be confrontational. Simply stating how you feel and asking band members what they think can be the solution to many problems.

Understand what motivates them to be unmotivated. Communication works wonders

If you need to invent ways to motivate a band to practice, i can't imagine how hard you will have to work in the future to get them to a gig, make them help lug their gear around, get them into a studio to record a record, etc.